Wednesday, June 13, 2012

A Shelton man was one of 20 people charged recently for allegedly operating and participating in an illegal gambling business in Connecticut.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office claims the group ran an illegal sports gambling website based in Costa Rica and three illegal card gambling clubs in Stamford and Hamden.

Domenico Manchisi, 64, of Shelton, was charged with a single count of operation of an illegal gambling business, according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office press release.

The charge carries a maximum term of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

The press release names Stamford, Trumbull and New Canaan residents as the ringleaders, saying they were connected to the Gambino Crime Family of La Cosa Nostra in New York City.

Dean Depreta, Richard Uva, Thomas Uva IV, Douglas Corbin and Joseph Borea were charged with conspiring to violate the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). They face up to 20 years in prison for the charge.

The indictment, which is posted below, seeks $1.69 million from the five men — money that allegedly came from racketeering activity.

Federal prosecutors said others involved in the alleged scheme face money laundering and other charges.

“With these indictments, the Organized Crime Task Force has disrupted an alleged criminal organization that commits crimes against our society,” said William P. Offord, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation. “Taking assets away from illegal organizations is one of the government’s most effective tools against money laundering and organized crime.”

The matter is being investigated by the FBI Fairfield County Organized Crime Task Force, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Stamford Police Department, the Bridgeport Police Department and the Connecticut State Police. The Monroe, New Canaan, Shelton and Trumbull Police Departments assisted with the arrests of the defendants.DePreta, Et Al Indictment